Automobile heater



May 24, 1938. c. H. WILL ET AL 2,118,281

AUTOMOBILE HEATER Original Filed Aug. 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l -INVENTOH5 CARL. {-4. WILL. HENRY w. F'INK W Ma T HNEYf:

y 1938. c. H. WILL ET AL ,2

AUTOMOBILE HEATER Original Filed Aug. 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INvaru-rons CARI. H. WILL 'HENHy W. FINH ATTORNEYS Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Minn., assignors Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of ware to Tropic-Aire, Incorporated,

Dela- Original application August 9, 1935, Serial No.

ber 16, 1935, Serial No. 54,684.

vember 26, 1937 3 Claims.

This application is a division of application, Serial No. 35,494, for Automobile heaters, filed August 9, 1935.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in automobile heaters, generally, but more particularly to the supporting structure thereof.

An object of the invention resides in the unique construction of the heater frame, which comprises a main supporting" bracket secured to the back shell of the heater casing by such means as welding, whereby it becomes, in'eifect, an integral part thereof, and which bracket is preferably formed of sheet metal and is provided with oppositely disposed lugs to which the motor is directly secured, and whereby the frame of the motor provides a tie between opposite sides of the bracket, thereby to strengthen and stifien the same.

A further object resides in the construction of the rear portion of the supporting bracket, whereby the usual inlet and outlet pipes of the heater core are directly supported thereby, and whereby the bracket will absorb shocks and strains transmittedto said pipes to thereby relieve the, core of such shocks and strains.

A further object resides in the particular arrangement of the rear end portions of the inlet and outlet pipes of the heater core with respect 30 to the bracket and the bolts for securing the heater in position in the heater body. whereby the heater is adapted for either vertical or horizontal mounting without altering the construction thereof.

35 A further object resides in the unique manner in which the motor, main supporting bracket, and the intake and outlet pipes of the heater core are interconnected, whereby a very rugged and substantial structure is provided. which may 40 readily be handled before and during installation, without danger of damaging the heater and causing leakage in the connections between the core in its intake and outlet pipes.

Other objects 01' the invention will appear from 45 the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out theso various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which foliow.-

58 In the drawin s:

Divided and this application Decem- Renewed No- Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved heater partially broken away to more clearly illustrate the general construction of the rear portion of the heater;

Figure 2 is a rear view of Figure 1, showing the 5 arrangement of the inlet and outlet pipes of the heater core with respect to the bolts for securing the heater-in position;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing the slots provided in the back shell of the heater for receiving the forwardly extending portions of the rear supporting bracket.

The novel heater herein disclosed, is shown comprising a housing or casing, generally indicated by the numeral 2, and consisting of a front shell 3, preferably of cast metal, and a back shell 4, shown formed of sheet metal. The front shell 3 has a suitable opening, not shown, through which the heated air is circulated from the heater into the vehicle body.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the unique construction of the rear portion of the heater, whereby it is adapted for either vertical or horizontal mounting, and whereby it requires but a small space on the wall of the vehicle body upon which it is mounted.

A supporting bracket, generally indicated by the numeral 30, is provided at the rear of the heater and provides means for securing it to the vehicle body. This bracket is shown formed of sheet metal and has forwardly extending upper and lower portions or legs 3| and 32, channelshaped in cross-section, adapted to be received in correspondingly shaped slots 33 provided in the upper and lower portions of the back shell 2 which, it will be noted, is provided with an inwardly turned flange or wall 34. The slots 1 33 are located adjacent the outer peripheral wall 40 of the back shell 4 at the top and bottom of the heater. Into these slots, the forwardly extending portions 3| and 32 of the bracket 30 are fitted, as best shown in Figure 1 In actual practice, it has been found desirable to weld the extensions 3i and 32 in position in the slots 33, whereby they become, in eifect, an integral part of the back shell and will have the appearance of being thus formedtherewith.

The bracket 30 has a rearwardly extending portion 35 comprising a rear vertical wall 36, connected to the bracket by inclined arms 31. The central portions of the arms 31 are shown bent inwardly to provide oppositely disposed lugs 38, adapted to support a suitable motor 39, shown 55 view on the line secured directly to the lugs 38 by suitable bolts 4|. The motor has a suitable fan 42, secured to its shaft. This fan is mounted in a circular opening 43 in the rear wall or flange 34 of the back shell 4. By thus securing the motor in position in the bracket 30, it will be noted that the body orframe of the motor provides a tie between the lugs 38, and cooperates therewith to strengthen and stiflen the bracket 30. At the same time, the motor is rigidly supported within the bracket in axial alinement with the heater, and whereby it cannot readily become disarranged with respect to the opening 43 in the rear wall 34 of the back shell. e

The heater is shown provided with the usual water-circulating core 44, 'provided at its upper and lower portions with suitable tanks and 46, having pipes 41 and 48, respectively, connected thereto. The core may be supported with:

in the housing of the heater upon suitable rubber cushions, not shown, whereby the core cannot vibrate or jar loose from road shocks, etc.

The pipes 41 and 48 are preferablybent, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and have their rear ends suitably supported in a cross member 49, shown secured to the rear wall 36 of the bracket 38.

In the drawings, I have shown the cross member 48 separately formed and secured to the back wall 36 of the bracket by such means as welding, but

48 may be integrally formed with the back wall 36 of the bracket 30, without departing from the scope of the invention. The only advantage gained by making the cross member separately and securing it to the rear wall 36 of the bracket is to economize in metal when the bracket is formed of sheet metal, as herein disclosed. The bracket is suitably ribbed by depressing po rtions of the metal thereof, as shown at 5|, 52, and 53, to thereby strengthen it and prevent it from relatively bending or becoming distorted, when subjected to severe strains. y Y

A feature of the invention resides in the particular constructionand shape of the rear wall portion 36 of the bracket 38, which, it will be noted by referenceto Figures 1 and 2, is small and compact, whereby the heater may be secured to a comparatively small wall surface of the vehicle body, the only portion of the heater engaging the supporting wall being represented by the rear wall 36 of the bracket. Suitable bolts or studs 54. are shown secured to the rear wall 36 adapted to be received in suitable apertures provided in the supporting wall of the vehicle body, thereby to secure the heater in position thereon. It is also to be noted that the rear end portions 55 of the water circulating pipes 41 and 48 project outwardly beyond the. wall 36, whereby they may project through suitable apertures provided in the supporting wall of the vehicle body, a sumcient distance to-permit the usual hose connec-' tions to be connected thereto within the engine chamber. Also, by arranging the water circulating pipes 41 and 48, and the bolts 54, as best shown in Figure 2, the heater is adapted for vertical or horizontal mounting, because the upper end of the pipe 41 which is connected to the upper' tively light in weight, is strong and rigid, and requires but a small space for mounting. It is extrex'nely simple in construction, and by securing the forwardly extending arms 3| and 32 or the bracket 38 to the back shell 4, as herein shown and described, these arms become, in effect, an

integral part of the shell, and a very sturdy and neat appearing structure is thus provided. Also, by supporting the rear ends of the water circulating tubes 41 and 48, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, shocks and vibrations imparted to the vehicle body are not transmitted to the core 44, whereby the danger of leakage is greatly minimized.

We claim as our invention:

1. A support for a heat exchange unit having a casing with a water circulating core therein, and inlet and outlet pipes comprising a supporting bracket having torwardy extending arms adapted to be received in slots in the rear wall of the casing and suitably secured therein, said bracket being formed of sheet metal and having an intermediate portion provided with inwardly projecting lugs, a motor secured to said lugs and forming a tie therebetween, said bracket having a rearwardly extending portion provided with a vertical wall portion adapted to be engaged with and secured to a supporting wall of a vehicle body, said wall portion having oppositely disposed, horizontal projections provided with apertures for receiving the ends of said pipes, thereby to support the same in spaced relation, and studs secured to said rear wall for securing the heater to the vehicle body.

2. In a support for a heat exchange unit having a radiator core held within a shell, said core having inlet and outlet pipes which pass to the outside of the shell, a one piece rigid arched support having arms having their terminal portions respectively rigidly attached to opposite sides of the shell, said support having an attaching portion spaced from the shell, reinforcing means cross-connecting the arms at a point intermediately of the shell and said supporting portion to reenforce them, said means comprising brace members secured to said arms and having their free ends so connected as to form a rigid brace between the arms and means on said attaching portion supporting said 'inlet pipes, one at each opposite side of said support.

3. In a support for a heat exchange unit having a radiator core held within a shell, said core having inlet and outlet pipes which pass to the outside of the shell, a one-piece rigid arched support having arms having their terminal portions respectively rigidly attached to opposite sides of the shell, said support having an attaching portion spaced from the shell, a motor arranged within the arch and intermediately of the shell and said supporting portion, means comprising parts struck out from the arms and connected to the motor in a manner to form therewith a rigid cross-connecting re-enforcement for the arms and a support for the motor, and means on said support supporting said inlet pipes.

CARL H. WILL. HENRY W. FINK. 

